A study examined the process of evaluating family-oriented substance abuse prevention efforts in three Native American communities. In general, the Native communities exhibited a lack of commitment to academic evaluation research due to concerns over who would gain from such research, how much value was placed on Indian opinions, the level of intrusion involved, whether the research was an attempt to assimilate Indians into the larger society, and the use of non-Native staff. Socializing at community events, dinners, and powwows was effective for recruiting families, gathering feedback, and gathering knowledge of the family and community situations and viewpoints about substance abuse prevention. The use of local people to contact families, schedule interviews, and gather community information for the interviewer was key to the study's success. Participants favored short and direct questions. Since persons other than biological parents are often involved in Native American child care, researchers need to identify the appropriate child caretakers in family-oriented prevention research. A desire was expressed for more culturally relevant questions. Questions that pertained to negative behavior by child caregivers were seen as disrespectful of their elder status. Researchers must understand and cope with time demands and scheduling problems that accompany research among Native Americans. Videotaped interviews should be conducted with tribal elders first to encourage others to permit videotaping. (Contains 59 references.) (TD)